Autonomous Metropolia of Milan and Western Europe

The Holy Synod of Milan originated as a diocese for Western Europe of an Old Calendarist Greek Orthodox Church (see also Florinites). The full name of this jurisdiction is the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Milan, Western Europe.

History

The diocese was granted a tomos of autonomy in 1984 from Archbishop Auxentios in order to pursue missionary work among the non-Orthodox people of the West. The title of the Synod at this time was the Metropolia of Western Europe. After the transference of its first Chief Hierarch, Metropolitan Gabriel of Portugal, to the autocephalousChurch of Poland, Bishop Evloghios of Milan was chosen as second Chief Hierarch and elevated to the rank of metropolitan.
As you can see from the photographs, the position of Metropolitan Evloghios, despite being traditionally Orthodox. He was never and is not now, intransigent towards other Orthodox Churches and never denied the presence of grace in the sacraments of the Church considered official. The Holy Synod of Milan, never conformed to the strict rules of the ultra-orthodox and uncompromising oldcalendarist moviment.

1989 - BIGINNING OF THE COMMUNION WITH THE UKRANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

With the establishment of full communion between the Ukranian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A. and the Church of Milan in 1989, the ecclesiology of the Archbishop Evloghios became manifestly Moderate. He was in full communion with Metropolitan Mstyslav (after First Patriarch of All Ukraine), manifestally ecumenist and in full communion with Holy See Constantinople. Then Metropolitan Evloghios and the Holy Synod of Milan was in full communion with the historical Primate of the UAOC in Ukraine (Metropolitan Ioan Bornachuk) of Lviv, right hand of Mstyslav and after with Patriarch Volodymir of Kiev (second Patriarch of the Holy See of St. Andrew).
The Synod of the Church of Western Europe and Canada, never say officially that didn't recognized the Sacramental and ecclesiological status of the "canonical churches". Metropolitan Evloghios worked tirelessly from the outset to create a traditional European Orthodox reality and to give it a canonical legal status.
For two years was in full communion with His Holiness Patriarch Filaret of Kiev (ecumenist too).
Today Metropolitan Evloghios remains at the helm of the Holy Synod of bishops of the Church of Milan, which comprises four dioceses, in Europe, as well as missionary deaneries in England, Spain, France, South Africa and Canada.

His Beatitude Vassilij of Warsaw and All Poland with Archbishop Evloghios of Milan

In October 1993, Metropolitan Evloghios, as Primate of the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Milan and Western Europe, was invited in His dignity of First Hierarch in full communion with the Ukranian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A. to partecipate at the sobor in Kiev for the election of the second Patriarch after Mstyslav.

On November 18, 1993, is confirmed by the Patriarch Volodimir the full right of Metropolitan Evloghios to be part of the Holy Synod of the Ukranian Orthodox Church - Kievan Patriarchate.
On March 20, 1994 Metropolitan Evloghios, receives from the hands of Patriarch Volodimir the Tomos of Autonomy[2].

On December 25, 1995 Patriarch Filaret intimate with a letter sent to the Canadian episcopate, Metropolitan Evloghios not accept American bishops under his omoforion (british island).

On December 27, 1996 the Holy Synod of Milan responds to Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko) that it intended to accept the American episcopate with Chirotesia (John Lobue and Hilarion of Austin), despite the threats and formalizes the final break (protocol 36/1996 of December 27, 1996). Then the full communion with His Holiness Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), ceased on December 27, 1996, before he was excomunicated from the Patriarch of Moscow Alexij II.

The title reconfirmed by Patriarch Volodymir through a new Tomos of Autonomy (1994)[1] is: Archbishop of Milan and Longobardy - Metropolitan of Aquileia, Western Europe and Canada.

1997 BREAK WITH KIEV - because The acceptance of the American bishops (John Lobue and Archbishop Hilarion of Texas)

Since 1997 (before the breakdown of relationships with the patriarchate of Kiev), the Milan Synod included a number of Western Rite communities, mainly in the United States, who worship according to pre-schismatic (historically Orthodox) liturgical traditions with the support of the Metropolitan and of the Holy Synod of Bishops. The principal rite of the Synod of Milan is the Byzantine Rite of the Orthodox Church, celebrated most commonly in the Slavic style but in some parishes in the Greek style.
On February 14/27, 2011, the Synod announced that it had granted full autonomy to its American Dioceses, elevating Archbishop JOHN of New York to the rank of Metropolitan and erecting the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles (Synod of Milan).

Ecclesiastical status

As with all of the Old Calendarist jurisdictions, the Milan Synod is not currently in communion with the mainstream Orthodox churches. It is currently in dialogues with the Moscow Patriarchate.

Hierarchy 2008

− The composition of the Synod in 2008, before the events of 2011, was as follows:[2]

Italy

Metropolitan EVLOGHIOS of Milan, First Hierarch

Archbishop LUCA of Torcello (now retired)

Archbishop ONUPHRIUS of Bergamo (Titular; the Archbishop is the Representative to Eastern Europe for the Synod)

Archbishop ABBONDIO of Como (Still with Milano Synod)

Spain

Bishop PABLO of Italica, bishop for Spain and Portugal

Bishop IDELFONSO of Valencia, vicar for Spain (Retired - the Synod of Milan have his recent letter - 10 august 2013 - anyway someone tells he left his jurisdiction and went under omophor of bishop John Lobue)

Germany

Bishop BORIS of Germany (Still in the Synod of Milan)

America

Archbishop HILARION of Austin (retired)

Archbishop JOHN of New York and New Jersey

Bishop PAVLOS of Maspeth

Hierarchy 1995-96

− The composition of the Synod in 1996, before the breakdown of relationship between Milan and Kiev (with Patriarch Filaret (Denisenko))
This Hierarchy is officially published in the bulletins of the Patriarchate of Kiev (see website of the Synod of Milan where they are currently available)